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St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Lee Enterprises

Friday, May 8, 2009 9:12 PM CDT
Mattoon library board supports non-resident card hike

By HERB MEEKER, Staff Writer
hmeeker@jg-tc.com

MATTOON — Library officials are planning a non-resident card fee hike this summer, but a cut in library hours might wait.

Mattoon Library Board members earlier this week voiced support for a $15 increase in the library card cost for individuals and families living outside the city. That would raise the fee to $60 per year, but another $15 hike might be added next year, Library Director Ryan Franklin said Friday.

But the final vote on the fee hike, which does not affect city residents, is not expected until the June 8 library board meeting. Franklin said the two-year fee increase scheduling is intended to lessen the impact on non-resident library users.

“We don’t want to do it all at once,” said Franklin.

The final $75 annual non-resident fee would be based on the average amount of property taxes paid by city residents now. The library has its property tax base limited to city limits, but there are about 600 non-resident cardholders.

This and other library changes are related to the failure of a referendum that would have established a new Mattoon library district, based on most of the Mattoon school district.

That would have created a new addition to property tax bills for residents outside the city while adding more money for covering library expenses.

There were plans to expand services with the added revenue next year with a successful referendum.

Right now, it is hard to predict how many non-resident cardholders will refuse to renew with the library, Franklin said.

But the library will not trim its hours this summer if the budget permits.

Plans are to cut hours on Fridays, but Franklin said that is not a realistic option with the summer rush coming up.

“All libraries experience an increase in activity in the summer with the students out of school. We will hold off on changing our hours as long as possible,” she said.

The weather is another factor on cost cutting, too, Franklin said. Some library patrons are already feeling it.

“Some people have noticed the second floor is warmer than usual. We are holding off using the air conditioning until later this month if possible. We are catching some breezes through the windows,” she said.

Contact Herb Meeker at hmeeker@jg-tc.com or 238-6869.

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